ABU DHABI // Ahmed Al Hameli, the Emirati powerboat driver, will start fourth from the grid in Friday’s UIM Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and said that anyone from the front 10 could win the race.
“It is a wide-open race,” Al Hameli said after Thursday’s qualifying at the Breakwater.
“I hope to get a good start to race in the clear waters ahead of the others. That can be an advantage of starting in the top six in the race. Of course, the race is different from the qualification rounds, so fingers crossed.”
Thani Al Qamzi, the more experienced of the two Team Abu Dhabi drivers, will start from eighth but the surprise was Philippe Chiappe, the Frenchman, who will start the 18-boat race on pole.
“It is my first start on pole in more than nine years and 90 grands prix, so I am quite excited,” the China CTIC Team driver said. “I think I was a bit fortunate, as some of the drivers made mistakes at the turns. Otherwise the conditions were perfect.
“I have been coming down to race in Abu Dhabi for the last 12 years and, perhaps, that experience helped. Hopefully I can take advantage with a good start. It is going to be a tough race, however.”
After Chiappe comes American Shaun Torrente and Swede Erik Stark. Next is Al Hameli, who is ahead of championship leader Alex Carella, Sami Selio, Francesco Cantando and Al Qamzi.
Friday’s race starts at 3.30pm.
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
SPECS
Barbie
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
While you're here
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: South Africa, field first
Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48
South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Match info
Uefa Nations League Group B:
England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)
